Format
Facilitator Greeting
Introduction (2 minutes) The instructor will introduce their character as a conductor on the Underground Railroad.
Lesson (Setting the Scene) (10 minutes) The instructor will discuss the political climate of the United States in the 1850s.
Group Presentation (15 minutes) Each student group will present the ?Escape Plan? that they have developed as a team. The instructor will ask the students questions while remaining in character. Students will be asked what is integral in the development of a successful escape plan, such as mode of transportation, usage of codes and disguises, etc. In addition, students will reveal where they believe the ?Promise Land? is located.
Lesson cont?d (15 minutes) The instructor will discuss the function of the Underground Railroad. They will reveal the methods used to successfully keeping the Railroad ?underground?. In addition, communication codes will be explained as well as demonstrated (i.e. quilt patterns, coded language and songs).
Conclusion (3 minutes) The program will conclude with a question and answer session in which the instructor remains in character. The class will be encouraged to continue the exploration of the subject with the post lesson activities provided.
Objectives
Students will:
- Learn more about the specific dangers and challenges faced by runaway slaves and their helpers on the Underground Railroad.
- Learn about the Fugitive Slave Act and how it affected the Underground Railroad.
- Create and map an escape route to freedom for a runaway slave.
Standards Alignment
National Standards
NSS-G.k-12.1
As a result of the activities in this program students will be able to understand the major ideas of freedom as a constitutional right for people in America; the social history of African-Americans in America; and the ideas behind and the development of events of African-Americans before, during and after the Civil War.
State Standards
Coming Soon...